Chapter 3

The carriage advanced slowly through the lamplit streets of the capital.

The wheels resonated softly over the stone road as the last wedding guests bid their farewells at the imperial palace.

Inside the carriage, the silence was heavy.

Lysander Valemont sat by the window, watching the city lights pass one after another.

Beside him, Kael Aetherion remained completely still.

His posture was straight, impeccable, as if even in a private moment he was still the same imposing duke everyone feared.

Neither of them spoke.

Lysander knew this had also happened in the original story.

After the wedding, the ride to the duke's residence had been filled with the same uncomfortable silence.

A newly formed marriage... that felt more like an agreement between strangers.

Finally, the carriage stopped.

The great iron gates of the Aetherion mansion opened slowly.

The place was enormous.

Imposing.

The white walls of the palace gleamed under the lantern light, and the perfectly maintained gardens surrounded the residence as if guarding their master's territory.

A servant opened the carriage door.

"Welcome home, Duke Aetherion."

Kael descended first.

His presence was so commanding that even the servants bowed their heads the moment they saw him.

Then Kael extended a hand toward the interior of the carriage.

It was a formal gesture.

Nothing more.

Lysander hesitated for a second... but took his hand and stepped down.

The contact was brief.

But even so, he could feel the natural difference between an alpha and an omega.

Kael's dominant presence was strong, stable... almost overwhelming.

The servants received them with respect.

"Welcome, Lord Lysander."

He nodded softly.

Everything was new.

Everything was too large.

In the original novel, the real Lysander had reacted with arrogance upon arriving at the mansion.

He'd made demands.

He'd argued with the servants.

But he wasn't that person.

As they walked through the long hallways of the palace, Lysander observed the details with quiet curiosity.

The walls were decorated with antique paintings.

The tall windows let in the moonlight.

It was a beautiful place... but also cold.

Finally, Kael stopped in front of a large door.

He turned to face him.

His dark eyes observed him with calm, but without warmth.

"This will be your room."

The words were direct.

Clear.

Lysander blinked.

Ah...

He remembered immediately.

In the original story, Kael never shared a room with his betrothed.

The marriage existed in name only.

Without closeness.

Without trust.

Without love.

"Thank you, Duke Aetherion," Lysander replied calmly.

Kael observed him for a moment.

Perhaps expecting a complaint.

Perhaps expecting pride or irritation.

But none came.

The silence became strange.

Finally, Kael spoke again.

"I've heard many rumors about you, Lysander Valemont."

His voice was still low and firm.

"I don't expect affection between us. This marriage was a political decision. As long as you maintain House Aetherion's reputation... I won't interfere in your life."

It was a warning.

But also a clear distance.

Lysander understood perfectly.

In the original story, Kael had taken the same stance.

He'd decided to ignore his betrothed entirely.

Lysander lowered his gaze slightly.

Not out of submission.

But because he was thinking carefully about his words.

Then he responded calmly.

"I understand."

Kael frowned slightly.

"I don't wish to cause problems in this house," Lysander continued softly. "I'll do everything I can to conduct myself properly as a member of the Aetherion family."

A silence fell between them.

It was a response that was too calm.

Too reasonable.

It wasn't the reaction Kael had expected.

Court rumors described Lysander as a proud, temperamental omega.

Someone who reacted with anger at anything that displeased him.

But the young man before him...

Didn't match that image.

Kael's eyes narrowed slightly.

For a moment, he studied him more closely.

Then he spoke.

"I hope so."

Without another word, the duke turned and began walking away down the hall.

His footsteps echoed firmly against the marble floor.

Lysander watched him go.

When Kael's tall figure disappeared into the distance, he slowly released the breath he'd been holding.

He entered his new room.

It was enormous.

The bed was even larger than the one at the Valemont residence.

The windows showed gardens illuminated by moonlight.

He sat on the edge of the bed.

And finally spoke in a low voice.

"Well..."

He looked at his hands.

The hands of Lysander Valemont.

The omega destined for an unhappy life in the original story.

"I suppose this is the real beginning."

He knew that changing fate wouldn't be easy.

Kael still believed the rumors.

The relationship between them was full of distance.

But at least...

Today he hadn't made things worse.

That was already a small change.

Lysander slowly lay back on the bed.

He stared at the ceiling in silence.

And a small smile appeared on his face.

"Step one... survive."

The rest...

He'd figure out tomorrow.

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